Potential Atlanta Hawks trade target dealt to Oklahoma City in first blockbuster trade of the offseason

Although it’s just rumors and speculation, two-time defensive guard Alex Caruso has reportedly been considered a potential trade target for the Atlanta Hawks this offseason. Now, Caruso is being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first blockbuster trade of the offseason. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski broke down an explosive trade a few minutes ago that sends Caruso to the Thunder for Josh Giddey.

Here’s what Wojnarowski had to say about the trade:

“The trade gives the Thunder one of the most coveted players in the league, a 30-year-old guard that general manager Sam Presti has long sought for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. The arrival of Caruso could be considered a comparable addition to Golden State’s acquisition of Andre Iguodala in 2013. Both were 30 years old.

The Bulls are determined to find a point guard to replace Lonzo Ball, and Giddey, 21, has All-Star potential that likely wouldn’t be realized with the Thunder due to the playmaking power around him. The Bulls will offer him the opportunity to have the ball in his hands and much more freedom to pass and score.

Caruso is entering the final year of his contract and becomes eligible for a four-year, approximately $80 million extension, exactly six months from the date of this trade. The Thunder made the trade in hopes of having Caruso as a full-fledged role player for the long term. »

This is obviously major news in the league, as it gives the Thunder a huge chance to try and win a championship this season while the Bulls get a young player in return. While there were no real reports linking Caruso to the Hawks, it was easy to see him as a potential fit alongside Trae Young, as a point-of-attack defender (something Atlanta has sorely needed) and a good three-point shooter. Caruso could improve a weak defense, but now he hopes to make a very good defense the best in the league.

Bleacher Report analyst Grant Hughes ranked Caruso as the top “ambitious” trade candidate for the Hawks this offseason:

“The Atlanta Hawks appear likely to destroy the Trae Young-Dejounte Murray backcourt, but it’s unclear which of the two guards is more likely to leave. If it’s Murray who ends up leaving via trade, Atlanta should focus on supporting Young with the best possible running mate.

That sounds like Alex Caruso, an All-Defensive honoree each of the last two seasons.

Caruso’s current team, the Chicago Bulls, already has Coby White in place at point guard. This means a Murray-Caruso trade would make no sense. Atlanta could send Murray to a destination with a greater need for his services and redirect some assets to the Bulls in a package for the star tailback.

No guard who played at least 25 games last season posted a higher defensive plus/minus rating than Caruso, who is one of the few backcourt players whose impact comes close to that of the big man protector of painting generally more valuable. His ability to disrupt the point of attack, blow up screening plays and force opposing ball carriers out of their spot can change the outcome of entire games.

Murray overlapped more than expected with Young, and the Hawks didn’t look different enough after adding him at the 2023 trade deadline. Caruso would make a more fundamental change to Atlanta’s roster, adding an element of predatory defense that simply did not exist.”

Now that Caruso is off the board, the Hawks will have to look elsewhere.